Hand fence-machine



(No Model.)

M. P. OONNETT, Jr. HAND FENCE MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 14, 1893.

NITE TATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW F. CONNETT, J R., OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

HAND FENCE-MACHINE.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,770, datedFebruary 14, 1893. Application filed May 31, 1892. Serial No. 434,944.(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, MATTHEW F. CoNNETT, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and usefulImprovementinHand Fence-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines to be operated by hand,and for use in building picket fences in which the pickets are held bystrands of wire extending across their opposite sides, the strands beingintertwisted between pickets to maintain the latter in rigid relationand at proper distances apart.

My improvement is in the class of machines, for the above purpose, inwhich twisters, one for each pair of wires, and through which the wirespass, are mounted upon a common support or operating bar, in guideswhich permit the twisters to revolve and twist the wires, when theoperating bar is given a circular motion in the vertical plane.

In the use of machines of this class as hitherto provided, it has beennecessary to exercise great care in giving motion to the operating bar,and to cause the latter to move in a plane, as nearly as possible,perpendicular to the wires, in order that the twisters might revolvefreely, and not bind. My object is to provide a machine in which thisdefect is overcome; and it is further my object to provide otherimprovements in the construction of the device, which are hereinafterparticularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings-I igure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine fortwisting three pairs of wires; Fig. 2, an enlarged broken perspectiveView of a portion of a twister, showing the manner of applying it to apair of wires; Figs. 8 and 4, enlarged broken sections taken on lines 3and 4 of Fig. 1, and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5,a section taken on line 5 of Fig. 1, and viewed in the directionindicated.

Each twister comprises a ring A formed upon one side with an annulargroove 15. At one point in the ring is an opening 8, and on the innerside of the ring extending across the opening is a bracket 0, formedwith a round-faced rib 0*. Between the bracket 0* and adjacent part ofthe ring, which contains the opening 3, is a space g which is elongatedby recesses g, at opposite ends, formed in the inner end portions of thebracket. Extending through the space q is a block or casting A of theshape shown in Fig. 2, and provided at opposite ends, on one side, withguide-recesses 19,19, for one wire, and at opposite ends on the otherside with guide recesses, o 0', for the other wire. Extending throughthe center of the block A, near the end provided with the recesses 19'0', is an opening at, flaring in opposite directions, as shown in Fig.3, and flanked, upon one side of the block, by rounded projections 01'.The block is pivoted at its opening 91 upon a bolt 'm, which extendsthrough the rib portion 9* of the bracket r. The bolt is headed atopposite ends, and holds the block against the bracket. The laterallyextending edge-portionsl of the block, as shown, are rounded in thedirection longitudinally of the block, and extend loosely through therecesses 12. The pivotal connection between the block and bracket is inthe nature of a universal joint, which permits the block to turn uponthe bracket to a limited extent in difierent directions.

13 is a segmental twister-guide and sustaining bracket, comprising aplate or casting it having a circular inner face In, describing the arcof the outer surface of the ring A,and provided with arms i t" at whichit is secured by bolts 2' to the operating bar 0. At its inner edge orface 7c, the plate is is provided with a segmental flange adapted to fitloosely into the annular groove 2? in the ring A. On the side of theplate 70 provided with the flange 70 are lugs or projections 71: Securedat the lugs k to the plate 71: are plates 70 which are held rigidly inplace by bolts 70. The plates k operate to hold the ringA with itsgroove 25 in engagement with the flange 70 in a manner to preventdisengagement of the ring without interfering with its rotation.

The operating bar, 0, may be provided with any desired number of thetwisters, and to facilitate handling of the bar it may be provided withthe handles h h.

In operation, the wires X are strung in pairs, being fastened securelyto a post at one end, and held at another post in tensioning deviceswhich hold the wires taut and permit them to pay out while the twistingis being done. The wires are slipped into the spaces q of the rings A,through the openings s, the upper wires of each pair being caused toextend through the guide recessespp in the pivotal blocks A, and thelower wires through the guide recesses 0 0 in the latter, as shown inFig. 2. The operating bar is grasped by the operator in both his hands,and given a circular movement in the vertical plane, causing thetwisters A, which move freelyin their guides B, to revolve and twist thewires. Suitable pickets are placed between the Wires at stated intervalsin the usual manner, and the twisting of the wires between pickets holdsthe latter in place.

Projecting outward from the blocks A near their pivots, are studs 9, foruse in pressing or ramming the pickets forward after they have beeninserted between the wires, and

before the twisting operation is resumed. In the downward movement ofthe operating bar, the lowest twister is apt to strike the ground, and,in doing so, pick up soil. which would tend to clog the twister, andprevent its rotation. To prevent this difficulty 1 provide the lowesttwister with a guard or shoe D, comprising segmental platesfand e. Theplate f is L-shaped in cross section,onefiange extending across theouter circumferential face of the ring, and the other overlapping thefiat side of the latter. The plate 6 overlaps the grooved side of thering and is provided with a flange which extends into the groove. Theplates are provided with projections or ears at which they are securedtogether by bolts. On the platefis an extension orv fin erc )rovidedwitha head 6 The F finger extends loosely through an openingin the. part 7;of the guide. 13, the head 6 preventing withdrawal of the finger throughsaid opening.

In, Fig. 1, the lower clamping plate is of the lower. twister is leftoff to more clearly illustrate the manner of connecting the shoe to theguide B. NVhen that clamping plate is in position it prevents the fingere from slipping out of its bearing. The guard or shoe D, prevents thelower ring A from striking the ground, and does not interfere with thetwisters rotation.

The swivel connections, described, between the blocks A and rings A,give to the blocks limited playindependentof therings. This is animportant improvement over devices hitherto provided, as, for example inbuilding a fence up or down a hill-side, or over uneven ground, theoperating bar may be swung in the vertical plane to produce an eventwisting of the wires, without causing the twisters to bind in theirguides, while the relative positions of the blocks in the twister-ringsmay be constantly changing with the angle 1 of extent of the wires.

It is desirable that machines of this class shall be as light aspossible to facilitate handling, while an increase in weight of thetwisters tends, owing to the increased inertia, to cause them to be moreeasily revolved. I11 the present construction the guides are made aslight as requirement will permit, while the i principal weight is in therevolving twisterrings.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In awire-fence machine, the combination 10f a rotary twister-ring having anannular fgroove near its circumference and provided I with eccentricengaging means for the wire, iand a peripheral segmentalsustaining guidefor the ring extending into the said annular groove and looselyembracing the circumferential edge of the ring, whereby the ring is heldin the guide and is free to revolve, 1 substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. 2. In-a wire-fence machine, the combination with therevolving twister and sustaining Eguide therefor, of engaging means forthe f wires,comprisinga block provided with guides 3' for the wires andsecured to the revolving :twister, eccentrically thereof, by a universaljoint, substantially as and for the purpose set v forth.

3. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of a rotary twister-ringhaving an annular groove 25 and provided with eccentric engaging meansfor the wires, a peripheral segmental sustaining guide for the ringextending into the said groove and loosely clamping the ring at itsouter circumference, and a shoe D at the underside ofthe ring, securedto the Esaid guide and extending into the groove t and loosely clampingthe ring at its outer cir- 'cumference, whereby the shoe is heldin'position and the ring is free to revolve in the guide and shoe,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' MATTHEW F. OONNETT, JR.

In presence of J. B. HANCOCK,

J. W. BAKER.

